Orioles Win Holiday Matinee

July 4, 8:17 PMBaltimore Orioles ExaminerJay Trucker

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Fans staying for 4^th of July fireworks left Camden Yards happy Friday evening, as the Orioles took the series opener from the Texas Rangers in the holiday matinee game.

Lineup Shuffle

It looked like it could be another light-hitting day behind the run-starved Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, as Brian Roberts was scratched from the lineup last minute due to illness.  The birds were forced to start Freddie Bynum and Brandon Fahey, slotting Bynum in the leadoff spot.  Combined these two weigh less than Alfonso Soriano’s bat, but both came through for the Orioles offensively this afternoon.

The Robert Downey Jr. of MLB, Ranger Josh Hamilton scored in the first.  He drew a walk and came home on a Milton Bradley double.  The Orioles responded in the bottom of the inning, when Nick Markakis scored on an Aubrey Huff single.

Little Big Man

Most of the Orioles runs came in the second and third innings.  The second inning started with stocky Cowboy Kevin Millar working a 9,000 pitch walk.  Millar advanced to second on an Adam Jones single and both players scored on a Brandon Fahey double.  Markakis then drove in Fahey and it was 4-1 O’s through two.

Orioles fans couldn’t feel that this one was in the bag after Thursday night’s tough loss, but they were breathing a little easier after the third, when the Orioles scored four more runs.  The third inning included a two RBI single from Freddie Bynum and another Brandon Fahey double.  Rangers starter and ten game winner Vicente Padilla was knocked out with two outs in the top of the third.

Guthrie’s Relief

Guthrie went 6 and a third innings for the Orioles, getting pulled with a high pitch count in the 7^th inning after he gave up an RBI to Ian Kinsler.  Guthrie then sat at the bottom of the dugout waiting for the inevitable defensive meltdown to ensue.  He was pleasantly surprised when Ryan Bukvich surrended two runs (inherited from Guthrie), but induced a groundout to end the 7^th with Josh Hamilton stranded at third base.

The Orioles led 8-4 through seven innings.  They tacked on two more runs in the eighth and Dennis Sarfate pitched a scoreless ninth inning. 

The Birds got a nice bounce-back victory today from a hot-hitting Texas squad that embarrassed them 30-3 at Camden Yards last year (sorry to bring that up for those of you who managed to forget).  It was a good day for Guthrie, who gave up four runs but got the support he so often lacked from his teammates.  Brandon Fahey, who looks like the kid you copied your Math homework from in 9^th grade, showed that he wants to be a regular major league player. This Orioles squad has put together some nice wins lately, but they lost at least three games they should have won in the past week.  They are now in a dead heat tie with the Yankees, but struggling to catch up to first place Tampa Bay (I still can’t believe I just typed those last four words.  They deserve repeating so often as they are true). 

Hey Now, You’re an All Star

All Star selections are being made on Sunday, and while some teams (Yankees *cough* Red Sox *cough* *cough*) are sure to be overrepresented, the Orioles will only have one team member representing them in the midsummer Classic.  That’s because every major league team sends a member of their squad to the game.  If a team doesn’t have a player at the top of fan voting, a committee selects the All Star member.   

This year, the Orioles have several worthy candidates.  Nick Markakis would already be in the discussion for Gold Gloves and All Star selections were he in a bigger market.  Brian Roberts, an All Star in 2005 and 2007, is having another strong year, despite some baserunning problems.  George Sherrill has had a few meltdowns as of late, but his 27 saves put him amongst league leaders.  Aubrey Huff has also been making a lot of noise.  The DH and infielder is off to a surprisingly hot start, belting 17 home runs and 53 RBIs already.  Sherrill and Huff may be less likely to be selected, if only because their success has been so unexpected.  If you were to choose one Oriole to represent the birds in NY, who would it be-- Markakis, Roberts, Sherrill, Huff, Greg Aquino?  Another player?

Score: 10-4

Record: 44-41, 8.5GB

Next Game: Thurs 7:05 vs. Texas.   Burres (6-5, 5.07 ERA) vs Hurley (1-1, 3.57 ERA)